Nurse Practitioners..? Advice please!

Published Jan 9, 2014

1 Post

I have endless questions regarding this career.. And no matter how much I look into it I just won't be satisfied until I hear from real nurse practitioners! I'm an extremely ambitious high school senior. I've always had my heart set on a premed track to potentially pursue pediatrics. I took the hardest classes in preparation, and worked my butt off for a perfect GPA and a spot in the top 4 percentile of my large graduating class, while constantly getting underestimated for being an African American minority. I can't even stress how determined I've been to establish the studying skills and background knowledge to prepare for college. Well now I've been accepted for the premed undergrad at several schools, but am considering attending Penn State University, the main campus. As I near the end of my senior year.. I'm naturally starting to open my eyes to many harsh realities. I'm now realizing that I am capable of working diligently and strenuously, but do I really want to do that for an entire 8 years after my undergrad? I now feel like the end result of having a role similar to a physician, working in hospital settings, preferably with kids, is attainable through other careers that don't require as vigorous of a path. I feel like med school will make me a walking zombie! I have no problem spending so much time in school, but it seems as though I literally will not have time to have the social life I desire or meet a significant other or make connections outside of a classroom. By the time I'd get to practicing, you can anyone ever be "too old", but I feel as though I will just be beginning my life and never took time to smell the roses of my 20s I guess. Financially, sure this pays off.... Eventually. All the debt and expensive malpractice junk. Is it really worth it?! I have a deep passion for pediatrics, especially infants, since my family has taken in foster newborns and children that have been drug babies or had other developmental issues, whether that be physical or mental. I know that the innocence of young people is what I want to work with, and I wouldn't change my mind for the world.... But is 12 years of schooling necessary? I did some research and stumbled upon nurse practitioners.. And from what I know it sounds ideal. Surely not EASY or the "fast road" by ANY means, but I feel like the schooling and classes themselves would be more intriguing to me, and that's what will keep my passion and liveliness going. I just want to know from you all a few things.. Okay maybe a lot of things. Bear with me.... 1. Do you believe I'm considering being an NP for the wrong reasons? 2. What was the career path to become an NP? 3. How was/is your schooling experience and how vigorous? 4. Will it be hard to find a job in neonatal or pediatric care? Or ICU... ? 5. What specialty do you do, and what do you like most about it? 6. How do I go about shadowing..?7. Lastly... A day in the life as an NP..? Honestly to anyone reading this, I appreciate your time.. This is an annoyingly long post and I know I have a billion questions. I just want to be a part of something that I will love pursuing and being.